Local market research firms planning merger

By Nick Malawskey

Two State College-based market research firms have announced plans to combine their operations.

Health care-focused Market Insight and business-to-business oriented Diagnostics Plus announced Monday they are entering into a strategic alliance and will merge.

Both companies have been in the State College area for 20 years and both specialize in market research, surveying and data analysis.

Jim Fong, president of Diagnostics Plus, said he was looking forward to seeing the combined firm in operation.

“We are particularly excited by (Market Insight’s) long history in the medical and pharmaceutical industry and the online space,” Fong said.

Fong will continue to act as the president of Diagnostics and will assume a director’s position at Market Insight.

Diagnostics Plus is in its 22nd year of operations and employs about 20 research professionals focusing on employee/corporate assessments, product development and survey and focus group research.

Market Insight was formed in 1989, and serves as a consultant to medical device/ equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare industries.

The two companies will combine their operations at Diagnostic’s 1333 S. Allen St. location, where they will continue to operate a call center conducting medical, business- to-business and consumer research projects.

Diagnostics also has an office in Pittsburgh.